What are good book club discussion questions for Bad Blood?

Spoiler-free questions to get the conversation going: Where did you do most of your reading of this one, and did you need a cup of tea nearby to steady your nerves?; What was the first moment in the book that made you put it down and say 'oh no' out loud?; The book is full of people who wanted very badly to believe. When in your own life have you wanted something to be true so much that you almost talked yourself into it?; So much of this story turns on charisma. Who in your life has that kind of magnetic pull, and how do you stay grounded around it?; Many employees stayed long after their gut told them to leave. What has made it hard for you to walk away from a job, group, or situation that didn't feel right?.

What food and drinks should I serve at a Bad Blood book club?

Food: Slow-cooker tomato soup with grilled cheese triangles, Palo Alto-style sourdough bread bowl with spinach artichoke dip, and Warm chocolate chip cookies from the oven. Drinks: Honey chamomile tea with lemon, Mulled red wine with orange and cinnamon, and Hot spiced apple cider.

Cozy night

Bad BloodBook club questions, food & host guide

John Carreyrou

4.3 (56)

A cozy book club night for Bad Blood by John Carreyrou. Includes 8 spoiler-free discussion questions, food and drink pairings, a playlist, and a host guide, ready to print and share.

A curious, conversational club that loves nonfiction that reads like a novel

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A jaw-dropping true story about Theranos, the Silicon Valley startup that promised to revolutionize blood testing and unraveled under the weight of its own myth. Carreyrou's reporting reads like a thriller while raising big questions about trust, ambition, and truth.

Why it works for clubs

True story everyone has an opinion on, even non-readers
Rich characters and ethical gray zones spark easy conversation
Themes of belief, ambition, and warning signs feel personal
Pairs naturally with cozy talk about gut feelings and trust

Themes & mood

true crime-ish Silicon Valley ambition whistleblower ethics

Browse all themes →

Reading level

Moderate

Warm-up questions

1 Where did you do most of your reading of this one, and did you need a cup of tea nearby to steady your nerves?
2 What was the first moment in the book that made you put it down and say 'oh no' out loud?

Digging in

1 The book is full of people who wanted very badly to believe. When in your own life have you wanted something to be true so much that you almost talked yourself into it?
2 So much of this story turns on charisma. Who in your life has that kind of magnetic pull, and how do you stay grounded around it?
3 Many employees stayed long after their gut told them to leave. What has made it hard for you to walk away from a job, group, or situation that didn't feel right?
4 The whistleblowers risked a lot to speak up. Was there a small moment in your own life when you spoke up (or wish you had), and what gave you the courage or held you back?

Going deep

1 Reading this, did you feel more sympathy or more frustration toward the people caught inside the company, and did that feeling shift as the story unfolded?
2 After finishing, how has this book quietly changed the way you listen to a big promise, whether from a brand, a boss, or a friend?

On the table

Slow-cooker tomato soup with grilled cheese triangles

Comforting red and warm, a gentle nod to the blood-testing theme without being gimmicky

Palo Alto-style sourdough bread bowl with spinach artichoke dip

A cozy Bay Area staple for a book set deep in Silicon Valley

Warm chocolate chip cookies from the oven

The ultimate comfort food for a story that needs a little sweetness to balance the bitterness

To sip

Honey chamomile tea with lemon No alcohol

Soothing and grounding, perfect for a story that will get your pulse up

Mulled red wine with orange and cinnamon

Warm, deep red, and easy to sip while you gasp at the next chapter

Hot spiced apple cider No alcohol

Homey and nostalgic, a cozy counterweight to the high-stakes story

Soft acoustic and mellow indie with a faintly uneasy undercurrent, like a fire crackling while a storm rolls in

Tap a track to play it. Full songs play when you're signed into Spotify.

You're invited

Soup, Sweaters, and a Silicon Valley Scandal

Come curl up on the couch for a cozy night of tomato soup, warm cookies, and gentle gossip about the wildest startup story of the decade. Slippers encouraged.

Trivia

1

What publication did John Carreyrou work for when he broke the Theranos story?

Answer: The Wall Street Journal
2

What was the name of Theranos's signature blood-testing device?

Answer: The Edison
3

In what year was Bad Blood first published?

Answer: 2018
4

In which Silicon Valley city was Theranos headquartered for much of its run?

Answer: Palo Alto, California
5

At what university did Elizabeth Holmes briefly study before dropping out to start Theranos?

Answer: Stanford
6

What major Pulitzer-related honor has Carreyrou won for investigative reporting?

Answer: Two Polk Awards (and Pulitzer recognition for his Theranos coverage)
7

Bad Blood was later adapted into a Hulu series. What is its title?

Answer: The Dropout
8

What signature wardrobe item was Elizabeth Holmes famous for wearing?

Answer: A black turtleneck